Cambridge University crews enjoyed an excellent time at the annual Fuller’s Head of the River Fours.

The weekend’s races took place on the same four-and-a-quarter-mile stretch of water as the Cancer Research UK Boat Races on the Tideway.

Cambridge University crews enjoyed an excellent time at the annual Fuller’s Head of the River Fours

They crossed the line first in 18min 41.1sec as they finished ahead of two Oxford crews in second and third.

There were three other Cambridge boats inside the top 10.

In the elite coxless fours, the crew of Sam Wilson, Louis Margot, Charlie Fisher and Freddie Davidson were second in 18.45.2, 13 seconds adrift of the winning Leander crew.

In the women’s events, Cambridge fielded the fastest coxless four of the weekend as they triumphed in the elite category.

The crew of Myriam Goudet, Melissa Wilson, Holly Hill and Alice White covered the course between Mortlake and Putney in 20.02, which was more than 30 seconds faster than any of their rivals.

“The race was more challenging than I had expected,” said White.

“Holly, Melissa and Myriam were relentless throughout the piece though, and that gives me a lot of confidence as we push forward into the next training block.”

CUWBC II finished in second place in the elite category in 20.40.

Two crews were entered from the lightweight squad, with the coxless four completing the course in 21.20 and the coxed four finishing fifth in the elite category in 21.53.

CUWBC also took second (crew 62) and third (crew 60) in the elite coxed fours. Crew 62 featured Claire Lamb, who was racing for the first time in light blue, alongside Fanny Belais, Ashton Brown, Rachel Elwood and cox Evie Lindsay.

The squad now move into the next block of training towards their trial races, which will take place in Henley on Sunday, December 11 for the lightweights and on the Tideway the following day for the openweights.